Dispenser with sensor

• US 7,247,140 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gotohti.Com Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gotohti.Com Inc.
• Inventors: Ophardt, Heiner
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani; Philippe
• Application Number:
  US11/199,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 250/372, 600/437
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

A product dispenser incorporating radiation sensor preferably for ultra violet radiation and preferably with an alarm or notification mechanism which provides indications of ultra violet radiation levels and which may activate the alarm and notification mechanism and/or the product dispenser having regard to ultra violet radiation levels sensed.

Claims

1. In combination:

(i) a radiation sensing mechanism,

(ii) an alarm mechanism, and

(iii) a dispensing mechanism,

the radiation sensing mechanism sensing radiation and providing an output signal representative of radiation impinging on the sensing mechanism,

the alarm mechanism to disseminate either an audible or a visual alarm perceptive to a person in proximity of the dispensing mechanism,

the dispensing mechanism to dispense product on demand by a user,

wherein when radiation impinging as the radiation sensing mechanism is above a predetermined level, the output signal activating the alarm mechanism to disseminate the alarm.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dispensing mechanism has an inoperative mode and an operative mode,

the dispensing mechanism is in the operative mode for dispensing of product on demand when the output signal is representative of radiation above the predetermined level and is in the inoperative mode to prevent dispensing product when the output signal is representative of radiation below the predetermined level.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the product is a sunscreen useful for applying to human skin to reduce the effects of ultra violet radiation.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the alarm mechanism is selected from one or more of the group comprising a lamp, a flashing lamp, a rotating lamp, a plurality of different coloured lamps, a mechanism generating audible sounds or spoken words and written warning message, and

a control mechanism to receive the output signal and control operation of the alarm mechanism having regard to the output signals.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the radiation sensing mechanism senses levels of ultra violet radiation.

7. A combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein the control mechanism also controls operation of the dispensing mechanism.

16. A combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein the control mechanism controls operation of the alarm mechanism controls operation of the alarm mechanism and dispensing mechanism having regard to one or more factors selected from the group consisting of the output signals from the radiation sensor, the change in the output signals with time, time of day, calendar date, latitude of the dispensing mechanism and longitude of the dispensing mechanism.

6. In combination:

(i) a radiation sensing mechanism,

(ii) an alarm mechanism, and

(iii) a dispensing mechanism,

the radiation sensing mechanism sensing radiation and providing output signals representative of radiation impinging on the sensing mechanism,

the alarm mechanism to disseminate either an audible or a visual alarm perceptive to a person in proximity of the dispensing mechanism,

the dispensing mechanism to dispense product on demand by a user, and

a control mechanism to receive the output signals and control operation of the alarm mechanism having regard to the output signals.

8. A combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control mechanism controls the dispensing mechanism to prevent dispensing of product on demand by a user having regard to certain factors.

9. A combination as claimed in claim 6 including an identification mechanism for identification of a user.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein the identification mechanism comprises a fingerprint reader.

11. A combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein the control mechanism maintains a database of identification data for identifying individual users, the control mechanism requires identification data input by a of a user to the identification mechanism to match identification data in the database as a prerequisite to activating the dispensing mechanism to dispense product on demand by any user.

12. A combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein the control mechanism maintains a database of identification data for identifying individual users who have demanded product be dispensed and prevents dispensing of an additional quantity of product to a user who inputs the same identification data for a period of time after initial dispensing.

13. A combination as claimed in claim 6 including a mechanism to receive payment from a user.

14. A combination as claimed in claim 13 wherein the dispensing mechanism dispensing product only on receipt of payment by the mechanism to receive payment.

15. A combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control mechanism controls the alarm mechanism such that as the radiation impinging on the radiation sensor increases the extent to which the alarm mechanism disseminate alarm is increased.

17. A combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control mechanism controls the dispensing mechanism to not dispense when the output signals are indicative of radiation levels below a predetermined minimum.

18. A combination as claimed in claim 17 wherein the control mechanism controls the dispensing mechanism to activate the alarm mechanism and to permit the dispensing mechanism to dispense on demand by a user when the output signals are indicative of radiation levels above a predetermined minimum.

19. A combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein the control mechanism keeps a record of users who have demanded that product be dispensed and can provide a list of users who have not demanded the product be dispensed.